[lg policy] International Mother Language Day marked in Upper East

[Harold Schiffman]

 International Mother Language Day marked in Upper East
<http://www.ghananewsagency.org/social/international-mother-language-day-marked-in-upper-east-129183>
[image: Mother Language 2]
*By Anthony Apubeo, GNA*

Bolgatanga, Feb. 26, GNA – Mother Language Day has been marked in
Bolgatanga with a call on stakeholders in education to device modalities
that would encourage the study of native language in the region.

The day, which is celebrated worldwide on February 21 each year, was
organized by World Vision International- Ghana.

It brought together various stakeholders in the education sector including
teachers and pupils from some basic schools in the region.

Mr Timothy Amang-Bay Akanpabadai, the Upper East Regional Operational
Manager of World Vision International-Ghana, said the teaching of one’s
mother language to pupils enhanced academic performance of pupils.

He said the mother language is the policy of instruction and when children
study it well, it aids them to understand things better in school and
perform well.

“It is important that as we mark the International Mother Language Day, we
reflect on how we have collectively done with the language of instruction
policy in schools,” the Regional Operation Manager added.

Mr Akanpabada said the celebration was a reminder to all stakeholders in
the education sector to implement strategies and measures that would
improve on the academic performance of students particularly at the basic
level in the region.

He said “in 2015, Ghana conducted the Early Grade Reading Assessment and it
revealed that only two percent of primary two children can read with
comprehension. In Upper East Region 98 percent of children in primary two
could not identify letter sounds or three letter words and this has serious
repercussions for the nation’s development and also towards sustainable
growth.”

The Regional Operations Manager said World Vision International- Ghana, has
invested about US$1.5 million in the past nine years in the Kassena-Nankana
West, Talensi, Garu, Bawku and West Mamprusi districts to improve on
education through the provision of school infrastructure, teaching and
learning materials, bicycles for pupils, refresher courses for teachers as
well as Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) facilities.

He pledged continuous collaboration with communities, local authorities and
government institutions to provide quality education and help sustain the
well being of “4,500,000 people including children within families and
communities, especially the most vulnerable by 2021.”

Whilst appealing to the government to implement the instruction policy in
schools and the schools to put the materials into good use to derive
maximum benefits, Mr Akanpabada asked traditional leaders and the private
sector to invest in books in the mother language to preserve the cultural
heritage of the country.

Madam Patricia Ayiko, the Upper East Regional Director of Education, said
quality education at the basic level was very necessary in tackling the
numerous problems that children encounter.

Meaningful advocacy and collective efforts, she said, were paramount to
achieving improved education and appealed to both public and private
stakeholders to assist in the effort.

Mr Rockson Ayine Bukari, the Upper East Regional Minister, in a speech read
on his behalf by Madam Yvonne Wonchua, the Administrative Officer at the
Regional Coordinating Council, said pupils performed better in other parts
of the country due to inclusion of the mother language and added that
efforts are far advanced to have the languages in the region included.

He said policies were being rolled out to assist drivers who do not have
formal education to acquire driver’s licenses.

Two pupils, Achiri Olivia and Ayuumbeo Cynthia who presented a proposal to
the stakeholders on behalf of their colleagues, said every developed nation
demanded the effective participation and contribution of its skilled human
resources hence efforts must be geared towards creating an enabling
environment for quality basic education to thrive.


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 Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
 Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone:  (215) 898-7475
Fax:  (215) 573-2138

Email:  haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

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